Pride Festival tops the best non-football weekend events in Austin

Pride Festival tops the best non-football weekend events in Austin

The Austin Pride Festival takes place September 7 at Fiesta Gardens.
Austinpride.org

Darden Smith performs at Stateside on September 6.
Courtesy photo

Check out the Asleep at the Wheel documentary Then and Now, followed by a performance by the band, at the Long Center on September 8.
Asleep at the Wheel/Facebook

Last weekend, many across town rejoiced at the return of college football season, but this weekend marks the return of the professional variety.

Although football fans have two days full of gridiron action to look forward to, non-sports fans may be feeling a little lost. But have no fear: We have rounded up the best weekend events in Austin for non-athletic fun.

An Evening With Robert Osborne
Turner Classic Movies has always been the movie channel for true cinema fans, and Robert Osborne has been the welcoming face of TCM for quite some time. Although you can always tune in to hear Osborne's insight on many of the stars and films of the Golden Age of Hollywood, on Friday night you can enjoy his encyclopedic knowledge in person.

The Paramount Theatre closes out its Summer Classic Film Series with the man who is an expert on classic films. In particular, Osborne discusses what went on behind the scenes of one of the biggest films in American cinema history, Gone with the Wind. Paramount film programmer Stephen Jannise leads the audience discussion on this Hollywood epic.

KUTX Live With Darden Smith
Next door to where people discuss film history, a Texas musician expresses his own stories through song. Darden Smith has an extensive background in songwriting and performing all over the world, but he’s also found time in recent years to teach others the power of song through his various music programs.

Smith performs works from his newly released 14th album, Love Calling, on his new label Compass Records. He follows his new work with an acoustic set celebrating his musical roots when he made his big break on the Texas club circuits in the 1980s.

Saturday, September 7

Soundtrack Series
The Soundtrack Series invites musicians and writers to get on the mic and discuss the memories evoked by a particular song. If you can’t make it out on Friday or Saturday night, the Soundtrack Series returns in early November. However, you will miss out on September performers such as local comedian Kerri Lendo and Alamo Drafthouse chief creative officer Henri Mazza.

Austin Pride Festival
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the past week has been Pride Week all across Austin. Things come to a rainbowed end at the Austin Pride Festival at Fiesta Gardens. Presented by the Austin Gay & Lesbian Pride Foundation, the celebration features two stages of music, food, drink, games, activities and booths showcasing some of the local nonprofits and businesses that proudly support the local LGBT community.

Sunday, September 8

Asleep at the Wheel: On Screen and On Stage
When it come to country music, Asleep at the Wheel have been called legends, icons and even the “official band of Texas.” But titles aside, all that really matters is that they’ve been making folks scoot their boots in dance halls and bars for more than four decades.

Now fans can learn more about the band’s history with the debut of their documentary, Then and Now. But what would a film about live music be without, well, live music? Following the screening, masters of Western swing perform at Dell Hall, closing out your weekend with the always-winning combo of a movie and music.